Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell last night called on Government to abandon its revised policy of forcing yachtsmen to apply for extensions to stay on the Island after 21 days.

Mr. Dodwell said he was astonished at the decision to no longer give yachtsmen an automatic stay of six months, and claimed it was chasing wealthy visitors away.

The Royal Gazette revealed this week that Immigration decided to treat yachtsmen the same as other visitors, who must apply for three month extensions after 21 days on the Island.

The decision was unannounced and took yachtsmen and local businesses in St.

George's -- who rely on the big-spending sailors -- by surprise.

One yachtsman left the town in disgust last weekend and three others threatened to follow suit.

Mr. Dodwell said yachtsmen should be treated differently from air arrivals because they moored for long periods and spent a lot of money on the Island.

He said they should be given a guaranteed three-month stay followed by applications for extensions, and Immigration should drop some of the bureaucratic requirements for extensions.

To get the three-month break, yachtsmen must now produce a letter proving they have the means to support themselves, proof of medical cover and a letter explaining why they need to extend their visit.

Mr. Dodwell said: "This is bureaucratic nonsense. How many people carry a financial statement about with them? It means a fax or a telephone call overseas and it is very impractical.

"If we were overflowing with visitors, we could maybe afford to be selective, but we are in the business of rebuilding tourism. Why then are we turning these valuable visitors away?'' The Home Affairs Ministry said this week that no new guidelines were introduced for yachtsmen, but the 21-day rule used for other visitors would be applied to them.

Minister Paula Cox said guidelines were being prepared to clarify the situation for yachtsmen.

Mr. Dodwell said Tourism Minister David Allen should lobby Cabinet to treat yachtsmen differently because they were vital for tourism.

He said: "Yachtsmen are a totally different customer from air visitors and should be treated differently. I've done some research among businesses in St.

George's and they are very upset about it.

"These people are generally very wealthy and are word of mouth customers who go back to their yachting and dry land communities and do good promotion for us. We are looking a gift horse in the mouth and turning it away.''